More than 1,800 schoolchildren from all 33 of the capital’s boroughs lined up to help celebrate the official opening of the 2018 London Youth Games season. Organised in partnership with the South of England Athletic Association and City of London, athletes represented their boroughs in Under-11s, Under-13s, Under-15s and Under-17s races – with the first three across the finishing line from each borough scoring valuable points. It was also the first year that the Under-11s age group was a scoring event. Team Camden made a great start to their season as their Under-13s’ boys side scooped silver after finishing second overall.

Sam Amdor was the first Camden boy home as he raced to fourth place, while Jesse Hopkins and Remy Weinbrecht took 18th and 20th place respectively out of a field of 204 runners. Camden’s Under-11s girls side were also celebrating after finishing third and bagging a team bronze medal.

Out of 136 runners, Thea Reinhardt led the Camden contingent home in sixth place, while Cecile Reeves was 13th and Lily Schauer was 27th. Overall, across the age groups, the Camden boys finished in eighth place, while the girls finished ninth. It leaves the borough, managed by Ben Dorsett from Camden Council Sport and Physical Activity Service, in partnership with Highgate Harriers Athletics Club, eighth in the table after one event.

Highgate Harriers coach Graham Norris said: “I really do enjoy this event and it is great to see so many young people taking part. “We always aim for a top-10 finish in the boys and girls events, and to pick up two team medals was a fantastic way for Camden to get this year’s London Youth Games underway.” Meanwhile, Team Islington also made a spirited start to the new season with more than 40 runners donning their funky green colours.

Camden’s Jonnah Kramer, who was the borough’s highest placed finisher in the boys’ under-15s race, taking 14th place

In the girls’ Under-15s race Honey Millard-Cothier competed well to take 32nd spot out of 234 finishers, while in the boys’ Under-13s race Stan Hasson took 38th place out of 204 runners.

Medal winners from Camden’s under-11s girls team and under-13s boys team

Runners from Camden’s under-11s age group

Islington’s highest team placing came courtesy of Jadon Dodson, Oliver O’Connor and George Bayley, who led the boys’ Under-15s side to a 15th-place finish. Overall the boys’ team finished 26th, while the girls were 30th – earning Islington joint-28th place in the table.

Islington’s Borough Team Manager Daniel Bank revealed that it was going to be a busy campaign: “The new season is off and running, quite literally,” he said. “We plan to take part in 34 events this season so there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved and hopefully win medals.”